Almost 3,000 will pack the Rhiw'r Ddar Stadium to see the first glimpses of the Bluebirds ahead of the upcoming 2017/18 season, with several new faces expected to get their first run out in a Cardiff shirt.

The fixtures will come thick and fast for Warnock's side over the next week, with the tour of Devon and Cornwall seeing the Bluebirds face local sides AFC Tavistock, Bodin Town and League One Plymouth Argyle in the space of six days.

With the proposed friendly with Portsmouth at the Cardiff City Stadium called off after the sides were drawn against each other in the Carabao Cup, Warnock is still looking for one final friendly fixture before the Bluebird start their Championship season at Burton Albion on August 5.

We take a look at the Bluebirds' first four pre-season friendlies from the 2016/17 season...

Read More

July 13, 2006: Forest Green Rovers 3-1 Cardiff City

Paul Trollope and his young side began pre-season with a defeat at National League promotion hopefuls Forest Green.

The former head coach selected an experimental line-up full of youngsters and fringe players, which included the likes of out-of-favour strikers Adam Le Fondre and Federico Macheda in the defeat at the New Lawn.

The Bluebirds started brightly, with Macheda giving the away side the lead midway through the first half, before ill-discipline saw them concede two penalties in the matter of minutes.

Ben Wilson did well to deny Christian Doidge from the first spot kick, but he was unable to deny Kieffer Moore as Forest Green levelled before the break.

The momentum switched to the home side in the second half, as Matt Tubbs and Olly Mehew secured the victory for the Green Devils.

Both Macheda and Le Fondre would depart the Bluebirds soon after the defeat. The latter would depart to Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers on loan, while Macheda returned to Italy to join Serie B side Novara, after his contract with the Bluebirds was terminated.

Academy graduate Tom James and Kenneth Zohore — who had converted his loan into a permanent move over the summer — completed the rout in the second half to give Cardiff a comprehensive and morale-boosting victory.

Marshall would depart the Bluebirds at the end of the transfer window to join Premier League Hull City after seven glorious years in the Welsh capital, while Peter Whittingham would depart the club after 10 years to join Blackburn Rovers at the end of the season.

Gounongbe would fail to impress in his debut season, failing to score in eleven appearances. However, it is expected that the Benin international will be given another chance by Warnock in the upcoming season.

July 23: Cardiff City 3-0 VFC Osnabrück

Cardiff stepped up their pre-season preparations in Germany as they faced Osnabruck and FC St Pauli in two hour-long matches in one day.

Gounongbe gave the Bluebirds the lead before half-time with his second goal in as many games, before John's intended cross for Lex Immers avoided everybody and looped into the top corner gave Cardiff a two goal cushion.

Pilkington would seal the victory with his second goal in as many games, and Cardiff would win their second consecutive game without being troubled.

Read More

July 23: Cardiff City 2-1 FC Saint Pauli

In the second game, Cardiff would take on Bundesliga 2 side Saint Pauli and again it was the Bluebirds seized the initiative and took the lead through Immers, who had signed a permanent deal following a successful loan stint under Russell Slade.

Despite dominating large parts of the game, Maurice Litka would equalise for the Germans, leaving Wilson helpless.

Despite the setback, Trollope's side secured victory after Zohore chased a long ball and forced a back-pass out from Sobiech, which bypassed his own goalkeeper trickled into the back of his own net.

Immers ultimately struggled to get any game time under Trollope and was released by mutual consent when Warnock arrived. The Dutchman briefly joined Club Brugge but soon departed to join hometown side Dutch side ADO Den Haag.

Neil Warnock has formed a good relationship with Kenneth Zohore (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

Zohore looked like to be following Immers out of the door following a lack of game time. However, after changing the game in the last-gasp victory over Wolves in December, Warnock put his faith in the young Dane, and it was repaid with 12 goals in the second half of the season.

Despite interest from Hull City, Zohore should spearhead the Bluebirds' attack next season. Others like Gounongbe and Pilkington will hope to feature prominently and not go the way of Macheda, Le Fondre and Immers.